We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! There are the run-of-the-mill, hop-on-the-elliptical-machine-for-20-minutes cardio workouts, then there are the kick-butt, leave-you-breathless cardio workouts that practically melt fat off the body. Which would you prefer to do? Trainer Jeff Halevy, CEO of Halevy Life in New York City, is an expert at helping clients Read more

Location and machine availability may be the biggest reasons why you chose your gym, but there's more to be had with your membership. Get the most out of the hundreds of dollars you're spending with this list of extras you may be overlooking at the gym. Workout props: Maybe you only use the machines, but don't ignore the props lying all over the gym floor. Things like battle ropes (those thick Read more

FitSugar reader meetcasey interviewed CrossFit expert Robert Sax, owner of the CrossFit Amped Gym, and posted the Q&A in our Get Fit For 2012 community group. Check out what Robert had to say about this rising fitness trend! Meet the Expert: Robert Sax Can you begin by telling us a little about yourself? I am 27 years old and a Capricorn (yes, that’s the goat). I’m originally from Read more

Best intentions got you through the gym door, but anything from a crowded locker room to a forgotten sports bra can discourage you from wanting to stick with your workout. Before you turn around and go home, however, read our tips on how to get over what's holding you back. I'm late for class: Whether sneaking into class late is OK depends on a number of factors, including how effective your Read more

Reaching a fitness plateau means you're getting stronger (congrats on all the hard work), but it also means it is time to kick it up a notch. You need to add some new challenges to your workouts. My Equinox trainer Lauren has taught me one simple tweak will make every exercise harder: go one legged. Taking one leg off the floor forces your entire body to work harder to keep you on balance. Here Read more

With bikini season just around the corner, we can't help but find fit-body inspiration from the stars who dazzled on the red carpet this award season. To help get rid of that extra jiggle under our arms while also learning how to tone our tush, we turned to Crunch trainer Mitch Rice. With these three moves, you'll be waving confidently to your adoring fans and the paparazzi as if you were Cameron Read more

The free weights section of the gym can be a bit daunting thanks to floor-to-ceiling mirrors, stacks of barbells and dumbbells, and a crowd of bodybuilding types. But the benefits of free weight exercises are great, so it's important to boost your dumbbell confidence. Here are five reasons you should take a break from the weight machines: Your know more than you think you know. There aren't any Read more

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site. Does your metabolism grind to a halt after 35? Can certain foods rev it up? Answers ahead — and they're good. By Paige Greenfield Here's something to feel good about: your body is a calorie-burning machine. You'll even torch a few while reading this article. The point is, every single thing you do — Read more

Earlier this week we asked you which exercise myth had you convinced for way too long, and you weren't too shy to let us know! We already debunked the myth that muscle turns into fat, but here are the most popular myths that you believed and why they are so completely untrue! Myth: Strength training makes you bulk up. You said: "[I believed] that strength training would make you bulk up — Read more

My Crunch trainer recently introduced me to the assisted pull-up machine, and it might be my new favorite exercise. The machine uses counterbalance weights, which means the higher the weight you set the machine, the easier the exercise becomes. Set the weight to 20 pounds less than your weight, complete three to five reps, and then adjust the weight accordingly. For instance, if you weigh 130 Read more